Press Release for Sun Spots — Kickstarter Launches Sept 15

Dave Sokolowski, author of 2014’s successful Kickstarter scenario He Who Laughs Last, and contributor to both SixtyStone Press’ Masks of Nyarlathotep Companion and Golden Goblin Press’ Tales of the Caribbean, is launching his second Kickstarter to seek funding for his Roaring-20s era Call of Cthulhu® scenario, Sun Spots. The Kickstarter will go live on Thursday, September 15, 2016, and seeks a funding goal of $5000.

This scenario was written under the guidance of long-time Call of Cthulhu editor and writer, Keith “Doc” Herber, before his untimely death in 2009, and brings multiple elements from older Cthulhu games, including long-time artists like Jason Eckhardt, a period-accurate layout and design by Gregory G. Geiger, and the guiding philosophy of Herber, who worked with Sokolowski to make sure the scenario was unique in its approach of the Cthulhu Mythos.

“Dave Sokolowski’s Sun Spots harkens back to the classic Call of Cthulhu scenarios that we all love and dials up the danger with a number of intriguing twists including a new take on an old god,” said Stuart Boon, author of the award-winning Call of Cthulhu book Shadows over Scotland. “Detailed, multi-layered, and engaging, Sun Spots shines with interesting characters, nefarious plots, and ancient evil. Sokolowski has another winner on his hands.”

The scenario has a storied past, with the original draft being written in 2007-09 under Herber’s guidance as it was prepared for Misktatonic River Press’ The Outer Gods book. Although the first draft was approved by Herber with a “I think we have a winner here, and one with a lot of fun possibilities. Nice job…,” Herber sadly died in March 2009, leaving The Outer Gods to never see the light of day. And while both MRP and SixtyStone Press aimed to publish Sun Spots at some point, it was only recently that Sokolowski regained the rights to the scenario and decided to publish it via Kickstarter.

To bring this scenario to life, Sokolowski has collaborated with two key artists who will provide a unique look and feel to the whole project. Both Jason Eckhardt (artist for multiple Call of Cthulhu books, including Escape from Innsmouth, which was edited by Herber) and Reuben Dodd (More Adventures in Arkham Country by GGP, among many others) will provide multiple drawings to help bring life to life to the scenario. The cover was illustrated by Chris Huth (Pelgrane Press’ Ashen Stars and Night’s Black Agents), while cartographer Jake Coolidge has completed large and small-scale maps for the scenario, including a hand-drawn map of the town’s many locations.

Sun Spots has been play-tested multiple times, and it will launch on Kickstarter September 15th with the scenario, cover and many art pieces complete. The Kickstarter campaign will feature the PDF available for $10, a softcover print copy available for $30 and a deluxe and signed hardcover for $70. The Kickstarter page is available in preview now:

Fans of traditional Lovecraft scenarios will find that the extended scenario has an unusual take on one of the Outer Gods that will challenge both players and game masters with a broad, sandbox environment for investigating myriad unusual occurrences. Originally designed for the 6th edition of Call of Cthulhu, Sun Spots will be updated for the recently released 7th edition of the CoC rules. The story drops a group of investigators into the middle of a New England snowstorm in 1925, where a local banker seeks help retrieving his daughter, Susan, from a remote resort town. Things just get weirder from there.

Nearly 28,000 words have been written for this scenario, allowing for a long and satisfying exploration of the resort town of Red Valley, which is hiding rival archaeologists, ancient magics of the Hyperboreans, and a sun that may never set. Herber had this to say as the first draft was finished: “Lots of characters, and I think you did a really good job with them. A lot of writers can only come up with a handful of the usual cliches. This place seems to be populated by real human beings, and lots of them. Kudos.”

Are you willing to take the case and see why Susan refuses to leave Red Valley? Find out what ancient secrets lie at the heart of Sun Spots.